EARLY WITCHES



EARLY WITCHES

I. Origins:

A. Mesopotamia: Iran, Asia Minor; Thessaly/Bulgaria

B.Pre-history: connected to Mater/Meter "Mother" & Hekate (goddess of witches)

1. "meter" Is priestesses--prob. "witches" evidence: folk tales ? & myth

II. Circe: witch in Homer, Odyssey--lst description in literature

A. Characteristics:

1. beautiful (later-witches are ugly)

B. Powers:

1. super-human, but less than gods

2. "mana"= Greek dynamis (power)

3. "moly" -antidote to Circe's power

C. Practices:

1. herbs-healed;

2. controlled mana

3. prophecy-can see Future

4. had "grace" = charis, arete (excellence)

III. Magic: developed from witches' practices

A. Spells, formulae, symbols, amulets, etc.  protections

B. Tools:

1. wand

2. herb (potion)

3. a god who revealed secret

C. "Black" magic: curses, incantations, poisons

IV. Medea-pivotal figure for witches

A. Background:

1. Circe's niece

2. granddaughter of Helios (Sun), a Titan

3. from Colchis (Eastern edge of Black Sea)

4. Princess & priestess of Hekate

B. Medea's story & changes--see handout 1,1

V. Image of the Witch: changes from beautiful, healer, priestess to ugly, evil "crone"

A. Circe-beautiful

B. Medea--causes changed image

C. other ancient witch-types:

1. Lilith (Hebrew)

2. Lamias (Greco-Roman)- semi-vampires

3. Harpies (Mesopotamian) -baby snatcher/stealers

D. Roman era and later: evil crone image dominant

 

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